Editing Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut:Volume 7 Episode 3 (section)

===Part 2===

「Thank you for your hard work today. Well then, let’s head to the number one inn in the holy capital.」

After getting discharged from the guard duty near the sanctuary, Alterize came along with horse carriage as expected, but today she was showing them a different destination.

「Eerr, we aren’t going back home?」

「Because there is plan to participate in a dinner party that is being hold during the Pilgrimage Festival.」

「If you are tired, it’s also fine to return to the mansion of Einfolk, but I think that staying outside at least for today will instead make it feel more easeful you know?」

Urged like that by Krulcifer, Lux decided to participate in the party too.

Fundamentally it was a celebration of Ymir Theocracy that would be held solemnly in one’s own residence or at the church, but a part of the nobles would prepare a gorgeous dinner party.

Believers with position like the pope or bishop wouldn’t participate in this banquet.

It seemed that it wasn’t something formal that was conforming to the doctrine, but something that a part of the nobles held independently.

Having said that, compared to the dinner party of other country, there was no doubt that it was something quiet.

After the horse carriage ran for a while, they arrived at a high class inn that was attached with bath, bar, and cafeteria.

「Ojou-sama  has a bit of business, so please relax over here first.」

Guided by Alterize, Lux opened the door of an individual room.

The room was clean, with calming interior design and color scheme.

It wasn’t as luxurious as the royal capital’s high class inn, but it had chic design and consolidated ornaments, bringing out a mysterious calm.

It seemed that it also had services that were unique to northern country, like putting warmed rock at the bed and so on.

The interior of the inn itself was something that even Lux was happy about, but,

「Err, Alterize-san. This room, for some reason it has two beds in it though……」

After giving the room a brief survey, Lux alluded regarding that.

「Yes. There is also a room with one large type bed but, that’s, it’s still, the Pilgrimage Festival is also not over yet. If the two of you cut loose too much──」

Alterize averted her gaze for some reason and her cheeks reddened. Seeing that, Lux was convinced.

「That’s not it, don’t tell me Krulcifer-san will be in this same room!?」

「……Honestly speaking, from my view I also think that this is still too early, but this is so, Lux-sama too, won’t become too daring, in the academy or in Einfolk house, that’s why.」

「Please don’t be considerate like that-! Or rather, between I and Krulcifer-san something like betrothal is still no──」

「Then, when you finished changing, please head to the dinner party at the second floor. I think Ojou-sama will also change in this room, so please hurry as much as possible.」

The door was closed shut with a click along with a bow.

He missed the chance to resolve the misunderstanding again.

「──But, I wonder, what does Krulcifer-san think about the matter of bethrothal?」

Lux was changing into the prepared dress suit while he suddenly thought of such thing.

For Krulcifer, at present Einfolk house was pushing troublesome betrothal on her, so she made Lux to assume the role of fiancée to avoid the troublesome matter. Surely that was it.

But, as expected, he got the hunch that it would become problem at the future if this misunderstanding was left as it was indefinitely.

「I have to do something about it.」

The moment he relaxed his attention like that, an impulse of wanting to lie down on the bed welled up.

「Fuu, I’m tired……」

Lux sat down on the bed. He then stretched up his body before collapsing down.

Then, in the place of soft feather blanket, *munyun* such soft sensation touched his head.

「Eh──?」

The moment Lux tilted his head in confusion, Lux’s body was quickly embraced by a girl’s hands gently and he was restrained.

Lux was speechless from a great shock. Then a familiar voice of a girl entered his ear.

「Lu-chan, caught you.」

「……Wait, Phi-chan!? Wa-, why!? How!?」

The one sleeping on Lux’s bed was his childhood friend, Philuffy.

The back of Lux’s head was placed on the chest of the girl who was incidentally lying down face up there. His posture was as though it became replacement of pillow for him.

On top of that, Philuffy circled both her hands around Lux and embraced him *gyuuu-* tightly that he couldn’t move.

「The door was left open, so I entered you know?」

「A, it’s true. If I’m not careful──not that, what I want to ask isn’t that you know!?」

Lux’s face turned red from feeling the soft and elastic texture of Philuffy’s breast while he yelled.

「Onee-chan, and my master will do something somehow about it for me a bit. So I can finally come here.」

Philuffy gave him such answer with an indifferent tone.

Lux didn’t understand the detail with only that, but it seemed that the gist of it was that Philuffy came to Ymir using Relie’s strength.

「Master? ……Or rather, this posture is bad, so let me go for now okay!?」(TN: Master in the meaning of mentor, teacher)

「…………, don’t want.」

Philuffy kept hugging Lux with reproachful eyes, then she faced away with ‘puih’,

「Eeeeh, wai-, why──!?」

When Lux was flustered and he reflexively yelled,

「……I’m, angry here.」

「Eh……!?」

Philuffy puffed up her cheeks slightly with her expression and voice still didn’t look or sound like she was angry at all.

「Even though, I promised, to go to crepe stall, together with Lu-chan.」

「Ah……」

Lux recalled that promise now that she told him.

Because Lux left the country a day earlier in a hurry, he was unable to keep his promise with Philuffy.

「So, sorry Phi-chan! This time there is a circumstance, but next time I’ll make up for it without fail, so──」

「……You, promise?」

After staring still at Lux’s panicked face, Philuffy said that to him.

「Yes. That’s why, that, if you can forgive me this time──amuh」

When Lux tried to explain, Philuffy let go of him.

And then something softly pushed on the lips of Lux who was getting up.

Looking carefully, it was a cookie that Philuffy often eat.

「Then, for you. The proof of making up.」

Lux was relieved seeing Philuffy showing him a faint smile and he ate the cookie.

The gentle taste of the faint sweetness was melting inside his mouth.

「That’s, after this, I have plan to go to the banquet though……」

[[File:Saijaku V7 P131.jpg|thumb|right]]

Leaving her behind like this would be a bit……, should he take her along with him?

While Lux was thinking of such arrangement, Philuffy slowly stood up.

「I’m being invited by the inn’s big wig, so I’ll be all right. Later, Lu-chan.」

It seemed Philuffy herself also had business.

They would talk in more detail later and so Lux parted with her for the moment. He then went to the dinner party too.

–

After checking his appearance using mirror, Lux exited the guest room and headed to the second floor.

When he exited into a banquet hall, a spacious fantastical space spread out.

「……This is, the dinner party of the capital.」

That place Lux was looking at was so bizarre that such muttering reflexively came out.

It was a completely different atmosphere than the dazzling party at the royal capital.

It was quiet and dim, an atmosphere that was like Holy Communion.

Small silverwork candlestick was put on each table, then after being guided to the seat, wine and bread would be served first.

The other food would come after the prayer was finished, it seemed that they would be coming along with the lighting getting brighter.

The lighting only came from unreliable candles, a choir’s solemn voice could be heard from the stage.

「For now, I have to wait until Krulcifer-san arrives──」

However, the atmosphere was solemn, and yet he couldn’t calm down for some reason.

「Excuse me──, could it be you are alone?」

While Lux was fidgeting, an elegant lady and women of blooming age who seemed to be her companions suddenly called out to him.

Perhaps they were drunk. Other than strong perfume aroma, they gave off the scent of alcohol.

It seemed although this was Ymir Theocracy, there was also believers who didn’t fit into the mold.

「You are a traveler who came for the Pilgrimage Festival aren’t you? If you like, how about conversing a bit with us?」

「Tha, thank you very much for your consideration. But I’m, waiting for someone──」

When Lux responded like that while acting bewildered at their invitation, the woman came even closer to him.

「My? She must be a bad woman to leave alone a boy like you. Then while you’re waiting, we will keep you company here. We will also pour you some alcohol.」

「N, no, I’m──!?」

Even while flustered, Lux stiffened, unable to think of how to respond skillfully.

Wondering what to do, Lux fully operated his knowledge he got from his chores, but he didn’t have experience avoiding older female.

When Lux became even more bewildered and panicked,

「──I heard that in Pilgrimage Festival, it’s the custom to be quiet until the hymn is over you know?」

There, a different girl’s voice suddenly came from the side of the women.

「Also, it’s still too early to drink alcohol too. And so, I come bringing water.」

With a quiet gesture, that girl’s hand put a glass of water on the table.

She was graceful, and yet she gently chided the women with resolute tone.

Just with that gesture, the flowing atmosphere that was teasing Lux was splendidly severed.

「-……, wha, what’s with you. Thi, this is a kill-joy. Even though we are expressly tying to have a fun conversation here.」

The women were feeling indignation selfishly and then they left.

After that, that girl quietly sat down while saying 「Excuse me」.

「Eh……?」

That conduct that was just too natural caused Lux to mutter unconsciously.

He couldn’t see her face well because of the dim room, but that beautiful presence caused Lux’s heart to skip a beat.

She was wearing a chic dress with stacked up black and purple fabric, and conservative ornament.

The clothing style was calm, suitable for this holy communion, but the chest area that was slightly opened showed an abundant bulge, which made it felt like it emphasized that seductiveness deliberately instead.

「Err, thank you very much for helping me.」

Lux talked to deceive himself from the loud beating of his heart.

Then, the girl sitting beside him chuckled inside the darkness and brought her face closer to Lux with a smile.

「──Thanks is not permitted you know? Aiding you is my job after all.」

「Ee──, eeeeeeh……!?」

Lux raised a shocked voice spontaneously seeing the girl’s figure.

The new kingdom’s Academy’s strongest, the duke’s daughter who was the captain of Syvalles.

Celistia who was also the aide of Lux who became Seven Dragon Paladins was there in dress appearance.

「Wh, why!? Celis-senpai is in this place──」

She was a girl his senior who he associated a lot in the Academy, but he never imagined that he would reunite with her in this country──furthermore in the inn of this holy capital.

「That’s my line Lux. It’s troubling that you’re going far away arbitrarily.」

Celis was telling him with a tone that was somewhat unusual for her, as though she was chiding a troublesome little brother.

She must had been told how his departure schedule was moved ahead and came to this holy capital after asking Yoruka to give the others his message.

In regard to that, Lux couldn’t argue back at all and felt guilty.

「──But, I’m relieved that you are safe. In the future please discuss it with me first before doing something like this.」

But, that girl his senior conveyed to him that she wasn’t particularly angry, that she was simply worried about Lux.

「Yes. Next time for sure.」

Lux who noticed that responded to her with a relieved smile.

Then Celis smiled wryly.

「But, I’m also similarly helped, because it’s troubling that men has been calling out to me since some time ago. I unconsciously said 『Don’t come near me』 to all of them by mistake. I was nervous so──in that sense……」

「Aaa……」

Lux comprehended from Celis’s muttering that was mixed with a sigh.

「As I thought, senpai is not good with male even outside the Academy.」

「Do, don’t make fun of me please! ……I have been working even harder than before after all.」

Celis hung her head down in embarrassment. Lux smiled wryly seeing that.

「But, if senpai doesn’t get strangely tense, surely you will be able to talk with them normally you know? If you can do that, you will be able to get along better with other men──」

「Is that so? Then……」

Celis looked around the men at the surrounding with a distant look, but then her expression looked like she wasn’t really enthusiastic, and then at the end she turned a faint smile at Lux.

「──No, as I thought I’ll refrain for now. Male other than Lux, still feel somewhat scary, so I’ll ask you to teach me about male for a bit more first before trying it.」

「I, I see.」

That roundabout talk felt like she was thinking of him as special, which made his heart skipped a beat spontaneously.

At that timing when such atmosphere was flowing, the chair in front of Lux quietly moved.

「It looks like you are enjoying yourself with a beautiful woman aren’t you, Lux-kun.」

「Kru, Krulcifer-san!?」

Krulcifer who came late in dress appearance was talking to him with a fixed stare that looked vaguely cold.

「It was my bad for spending time to finish various kind of troublesome procedures. I never even imagined that you will do something like calling out to other girl even at this country.」

「Tha, that’s a misunderstanding Krulcifer-san. Celis-senpai is just, she only came here because she is worried for me──」

Lux made excused while getting flustered, but Krulcifer’s attitude was somewhat dissatisfied.

「Glad you could make it Krulcifer. Let’s have the piled up talk later.」

「Well, it’s not like I didn’t anticipate that it will become like this though.」

Krulcifer also sat down with a somewhat resigned tone, then the three started their dinner.

It seemed that they gathered attention from the surrounding as expected, but even so they were able to spend an enjoyable moment.

–

「Even so all of you, no matter how much you all want to meet with Lux-kun, but isn’t this still too much of impatience?」

After they finished dinner and joined up with Philuffy who had finished her business too.

They were walking at the corridor while Krulcifer asked that with sarcasm mixed in her tone.

「That’s not really true. In the case that Lux is staying in Einfolk house, there is no way all of us will intrude to there.」

「Don’t tell me, you mean……」

The moment Krulcifer heard Celis’s reply, she made a dubious face.

Lux too tilted his head while opening the room’s door. It was then a surprising sight leaped into his sight.

「I’ve been waiting, Lux.」

「Long time no see, Aruji-samamy lord.」

「Lisha-sama!? Yoruka too!?」

Inside the guest room that had been left empty for around a hour, the princess of new kingdom Lizsharte and the former assassin who now introduced herself as Lux’s servant──Kirihime Yoruka were there.

Lisha was sitting on the bed in her usual uniform appearance, while Yoruka was kneeling on the floor wearing foreign attire with high degree of exposure and welcomed Lux.

「……Haa, I wonder why it turned out like this.」

Krulcifer unusually covered her face with her hand and let out a deep sigh. She then averted her gaze.

「In the end everyone came here!? That, the new kingdom and the Academy are──」

Somehow or another, the elite Drag-Knights of the Academy were assembled here.

[[File:Saijaku V7 P139.jpg|thumb|right]]

If there was plan for such members to be away from the Academy, they could ask for the royal capital to dispatch reinforcement of Drag-Knights to Cross Field, but Lux wondered if it was okay this time.

「No worry. The headmaster has arranged for substitute Drag-Knights after all. That’s why we too could finally arrive here just now.」

Lisha folded her arms proudly and muttered that.

「And so, everyone came to stay here? Even Yoruka──」

After asking Yoruka to give the others message, Lux also instructed her 『I want you to follow the headmaster’s instruction』 after that.

It was because he wanted her to cooperate in case there was danger that visited the Academy.

「Yes. I was tentatively asked by the headmaster-san about what I wish to do, and so I rushed to Aruji-sama’s side like this. ──Am I being a bother?」

「No, there is no such thing but──」

「That’s fortunate. After all serving Aruji-sama is my wish.」

Saying that, Yoruka bowed reverently.

Honestly speaking, it was a bit unexpected that Yoruka was here.

After Lux entrusted only her the matter of conveying his message, he thought she would only abide by his usual order of 『I want you to obey the Academy’s norm』, and yet she came here by her own will.

She was a girl who wouldn’t hesitate to say that she was a tool, but at the depth of herself there properly was an emotional aspect.

Next if she could get along well with everyone little by little then it would be great but──.

While thinking of such thing, Lux turned to face Lisha again.

「But, for everyone to purposefully come here──could it be」

「……Yeah. We found out that there is a great danger approaching you two and Ymir Theocracy. We came here in order to inform that and help out.」

Saying that, Lisha spread out on the bed the summarized report──the data regarding the abduction plan that would be carried out in Ymir Theocracy.

And then, six people gathered inside the room for two and a lively strategy meeting began.